Kitchen Corner

July 31, 2015

With my comfort 65C bread dough recipe, I came out with one of my favorite bakery cranberry Cream Cheese Bun. My family loves it, my cell group members enjoy it so I think it will be in my baking routine. So, why pay more if we could produce something similar as stall bought?

Recipe makes 11 buns from panasonic bread maker

For the dough:

210g bread flour

56g plain flour

42g caster sugar

20g milk powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

6g yeast

22g unsalted butter

84g water roux

85g water

30g lightly beaten egg

50g cranberries

For the fillings:

200g cream cheese

50g icing sugar

1 1/2 tablespoon whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe for the water dough "water roux": Cook 125g water with 25g bread flour at medium low heat, keep stirring until it become thicken and no lumps left. Consistency should be like a thick baby porridge. Transfer to a clean bowl and cover with a cling wrap to avoid skin forming.

For the fillings, blend all the ingredients together in a blender or food processor until well combined. Transfer to a piping bag and keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Add all the ingredients in a bread pan except yeast and fit it into the bread maker. Turn on the bread maker. Adjust the timer to 0:00. Choose program 11 and press the START button. Knead for 15 minutes. Restart the bread maker and start from program 11 again and add yeast this time. After 10 minuted add dried cranberry and continue for the kneading process until machines stop.

Turn off the bread maker then take out the bread pan and cover with cling film. Let it proof for 40 minutes.

Divide the dough into 11 equal pieces about 55g a portion and roll to form 'ball' shapes, cover with cling wrap and rest for 10 minutes.

Flatten each dough and roll out into a round disc. Pipe out 25g cream cheese fillings at the center of the dough. Shape them into ball shape and seal tightly.

Place the filled dough on a baking pan attached with baking paper. Place another sheet of baking paper on top of the dough then place a baking pan on top. Slightly press down and let them proof for 40 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 210C. After the oven is preheated, place the baking pan together the top baking pan into the oven and close the door. Adjust the temperature to 190'C and bake for 20 minutes. Take out the top baking pan and baking paper continue to bake for about 8 to 10 minutes.

Take out the buns from the oven and cool on a wire rack. It's best serve on the day it made or warm it up by wrapped in an aluminium foil and tuck it into 200'C preheated oven for 10 minutes. It will taste as good as the day it made., soft and tasty!.

July 27, 2015

There are uncountable of pancake recipes and I believe you have your own comfort pancake recipe at home too. As for me, here is a recipe that had been with me for many years. I've forgotten where is the recipe source from, might be from one of my favorite blogger buddy. It was jot down in my little dairy and I have just realized it was not in my blog. This very soft fluffy pancakes is one of my favorite breakfast. I don't feel to pay more for having the same pancakes quality out there.

Buttermilk Pancake recipe (makes 6 pieces)

110g plain flour

30g caster sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

120ml full cream milk (room temperature)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

40g melted butter

1 large egg

Add the fresh lemon juice into the milk to infuse for at least 15 minutes to produce homemade butter milk. Right before use, shake it until thicken.

Melt the butter in a sauce pan. Set aside to cool.

Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the egg into the ready made butter milk and melted butter. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Do not over mix, it is good to left a bit of lumps in the batter.

Fry the batter at a medium heat on a non stick pan until little bubble form on the surface. Flip over to another side until cooked. Do nut over cook as you don't want a tough and hard pancakes. It is best serve warm just with a slice of nice cold salted butter with pure maple syrup.

Tips:Add ham, cooked bacon, sausages or cheese into the batter before fry to produce savoury pancakes.

Add fresh blueberies and pinch of cinnamon for extra texture.

Make extra and keep in the freezer. Defrost at room temperature before serve.

July 24, 2015

Pizza is one of the meal that I can cheat the kids to eat more vege. With the cheesy topping that over powered all the vege inside the pizza., kids eat happily with finger licking good. If you are a mummy with a picky kid at home like me, you will get what I mean.

I like to make pizza because I find it quite easy for me. I have plenty of ready homemade pizza tomato sauce and bell pepper sauce in my freezer. So making pizza in a scratch is not a problem. I just need to finely grate some carrots, finely chopped mushroom, finely chopped steam broccoli etc and place on the dough before the cheese topping.

I always have an odd pizza as I need to reserve a portion for my boy. He doesnt eat spicy and no squid for him too. Only vege and prawn for this time.

Here is the dough recipe has been with me for many years which is from 孟老师的一百道面包

For the dough:

150g plain flour

150g bread floor

15g caster sugar

1/2 + 1/4 teaspoon salt

3g yeast

165g water

15g olive oil

Knead all the ingredients until a smooth dough and cover for 80 minutes proofing. (for panasonic bread maker use program 11 for 15 minutes kneading process)

Punch out the air and shape into a round ball again then rest for 10 minutes

Roll out the dough as thick or thin as you like. Spread desire tomato pizza sauce or pasta sauce. Spindle some shredded cheddar cheese and add toppings like vege or meat or seafood. Sprinkle another layer of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.

Let the dough rest for further 15 minutes. Bake at 230C for 15 minutes.

The pizza best serve while it is still warm as the bottom part is crispy and able to hold all the ingredients on top by using hands to eat. Once it cold down, the dough will turn soft like bread which my boy like it that way. As for me and my hubby, we like to reheat the bottom part of the pizza to make it crisp up again. Place the pizza on a pan, turn on medium heat on stove for about 3 to 5 minutes. It's so good to have crispy bottom bread with gooey cheesy toppings.

July 23, 2015

I have just started making my own overnight oat early this year. It's pretty late as many of you has been enjoying it for many years. Well, late is better than none and I am really falling in love with it.

I'm not an oat person, it never come to my diet if require me to cook it and serve it warm. I simply don't like that texture but it's strange when it soak overnight in the fridge and serve cold that totally change my appetite. Adding dried fruit, nuts, fresh fruits and maple syrup that really change everything.

I really appreciate those bloggers who always publish their overnight oat that motivate me to try, or else I miss out something so yummy yet healthy diet in my life. Other than homemade yogurt, overnight oat is also become my daily diet no matter is breakfast lunch or dinner. Some of my friends tasted with good feedback and some even said it is like having dessert. As for me and my hubby, this quick meal very much fill our stomach with full of satisfaction.

July 22, 2015

Ever since I've learned making my own homemade yogurt, there are no longer store bought yogurt in my fridge as it is too simple to make and yet so yummy. Plain yogurt has become my daily diet as it could be my breakfast, lunch or dinner and even as a dessert after a big meal. Adding maple syrup to sweeten a little and goes with some dried or fresh berries or banana and granola is always my favorite combo. To fill my stomach, mix nuts will be added and that big jar of yogurt become a quick meal for me. My little boy likes to add black current jam in his yogurt with plenty of blueberries.

It is so good to have homemade yogurt at home as we can have it anytime.

How I made it:

Sterilise all the utensil that will contact with the ingredients such as milk and active yogurt.

In a clean glass container, add in 1/4 cup active yogurt asli. Gradually add in 500ml full cream milk and stir with a small whisk to make sure no lumps left and well combine.

Lid on and place in a larger heatproof container. Pour in hot water until the same height as the mixture. Cover with lid and store in a warm, dark and dry place. Let it fermented for 24 hours. During the fermentation, do not open or touch or move or shake the container. Just let it sit quietly for 24 hours.

After a day, take out the yogurt from the container and refrigerate for a day before serve. I found the texture is even better after a week sitting in the fridge.

A successful yogurt should be like the texture of Chinese bean curd and smooth top. Unsuccessful one will have very odd smell.

When serve, scoop out desire amount of yogurtwith clean spoon. Sweeten it with maplesyrup or honey or jam. Add fruits and nuts and enjoy!